Salmon Skunk, Noyo, 2-16 (Non Yak, No Pics, but a brief adventure)

  Yesterday we headed out of Noyo on a Starcraft 25' at 8:30.  Small craft advisory.  Me a little nervous, but Buddies Niel and Herb, both retired Navy, and experienced small craft pilots, decided to go for it.  They didn't seem to mind the monster waves, but me, the newbie wimp, not having been out on the open ocean much, found my knees shaking.  I couldn't even think of taking pictures.  Only a video and a recording of my heart rate would begin to show it anyway.  Got a mile out and the main engine started acting up.  Spun around and headed, or rather surfed, back into port.  Whew!

Mike, a great mechanic, and another very experienced pilot, met us at the dock and we figured out the engine problem.  Then Mike offered to take us out again on one of his own much bigger boats.  I politely declined for the day, but the three of them went back out, and fished 'till 5 o'clock; but no salmon.  Not surprising this year. 

As they came back in, the Coast Guard was waiting at the jetty, very carefully watching everyone.  Love those guys (and gals). Herb described coming in as "breathtaking".  Herb is rather understated, and, since the first time we had come in, he had been cool as a cucumber, I'm glad I wasn't there for the second trip.

I'll do it again in a while, but not on a small craft advisory day, and only with these really experienced guys.  Don't know if we'll get any salmon this year though.
Did anyone hear any reports of salmon caught in Mendocino or Humboldt, or further North this opening weekend?  Eric? Hawk? Zeelander, PolePole, ...Anyone?

One point of kayaking interest: Even on that day of wild ocean conditions, the Noyo Harbor and River itself was smooth as glass, and would be great fun just tooling around in on a kayak, canoe, or skiff, and just looking at all the boats and interesting harbor activity.  Probably no fishing to do there, but just fun, safe, and infinite photo opportunities.

Well, I'm going to go pick some nice ferocious mussels now. Just about my speed, after yesterdays' little adventure.

-Cheers All, -Matt

thanks for the report matt. sounds like an exciting afternoon with a good crew. if'n i get back up that way i'd love paddle some of those waters with you.

Hi Matt:

         To bad you missed out on "Big River" which was like A leaf floating between Heaven
and Earth. I would stay East of Catch a Canoe.Lots of Seal tucked in from the 7' swells.
                                                                          Sea ya nest Month
                                                                          Same Yak Channel
                                                                          Ernie

 

Hey, Matt.  I was out of town until last night and was feeling tortured not being able to get on the ocean Monday - it was FAC.  I was a bit relieved to hear that I didn't miss out on a salmon-fest, but it would've been nice to hear of a few fish caught.  It'll pick up...  I called Mario's Marina down at the Cove and the report was the same as Bragg area:  NADA.

Keep your ear to the ground - they'll show.

Eric